The engineering firm tapped to work on the east end of the Southwest Light Rail Transit line will be expected to help resolve one of the $1.3 billion project’s most vexing questions: whether freight rail traffic should be rerouted in St. Louis Park.

Minneapolis leaders say plans for the Southwest Light Rail Transit line will not win their support unless freight rail traffic is moved off the Kenilworth Corridor, a stance that puts the city at odds with St. Louis Park residents.

Hennepin County officials may make a decision next week on one of the more contentious and expensive issues involved with building the proposed Southwest Corridor light rail transit line: whether and how to reroute freight trains through St. Louis Park to make way for the LRT.